Washboard.



Ylhvrrirn @raras SPENCER MCOAY, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO FRED L.

BRIDGE, OF NEVARK, OHIO.

Farrar OFFICE.

WOOD- WASHBOARD.

SBECIFIGATION forming' pait of Letters Patent No. 706,192, dated August 5, 1902.

Application led December 30, 1901. Serial No. 87.792. (No model.)

To @ZZ zoll/mit zit nung/concern,.-

Be it known that I, SPENCER MoCAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Irnprovements in Vashboards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention appertains to the type'of washboards in which the ribs are separate from and attached to the base, being stout wires.

In the manufacture of washboards aforesaid soap, dirt, lint, and foreign lnatter accumulate in the spaces between the base and the ribs and soon cause the base to decay and the ribs to become loose, besides rendering the article foul.

In accordance with lthis invention the ribs are journaled to the base and are deflected from a straight line between the journals and can be turned so as to space the part between the journals from the pbase, thereby admitting of the ready removal of any foreign matter and permitting the base to dry out quickly.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for eiecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

Vhile the essential and characteristic features of theinvention are susceptible of modiiication,still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure lis a front View of a washboard embodyin g the invention, parts of the side strips being broken away to show the outer journals of the ribs. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line X X of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the ribs turned so as to throw the deflected portion away from the base or surface. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a rib. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of a washboard, showing a construction in which the ribs are j ournaled at their ends only. Fig. G is a modiiication similar to Fig. 5, showing a construction in which the ribs are journaled at their ends and atintermediate points.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The washboard in general appearance is not unlikel the ordinary article of this type and comprises side strips l, a base or back board 2, and a series of ribs 3. The ribs form the rubbing-surface, above which is located a ledge 4, upon which the soap is adapted to be placed. The side strips 1 are firmly joined at their upper ends to a cross-piece 5, which constitutes the head or cap, and which with the side strips reinforce the base or back board 2 and constitute in effect a frame. The ribs 3 are journaled at their ends in the side strips l and intermediate of their ends to the base 2, the terminal journals 6 and the intermediate journal 7 being in the same straight line. The parts intermediate of the journals G and 7 are deflected, as shown at 8, and stand away from the surfaceof the base when the ribs are given a quarter-turn, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, thereby admitting of flushing the board, so as to remove any foreign matter and also permitting it to quickly dry after being used. When the washboard is in service, the ribs are turned to cause the deflected parts 8 to lie close against the base, as shown most clearly in Figs. l and 2. The ribs are lengths of galvanized-iron wire of suitable gage and maybe of any length, according to the size of the washboard. For all practical purposes the ribs have only one intermediate journal, as

lshown most clearly in Fig. l; but it is obvious that other journals may be provided, as shown in Fig. 6, and that the intermediate journals maybe dispensed with, as shown in Fig. 5. A staple 9 or analogous fastening embraces the part 7 and is let into the base 2 and `forms the bearing for the journal '7. The form of the defiected part Sis immaterial within the purview of the invention, and it may be angular, as shown, or of any desired shape.

When it is required to use the washboard, the ribs are caused to lie close against the surface of the base 2, and after being used the ribs are turned to throw the deflected parts 8 outward, thereby admitting of cleansing the ribs and hase by flushing, and the board is set aside and quickly dries, because of the free space between the ribs and the base.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is l. In a Washboard, a frame comprising a base, and a series of ribs journaled to the f rame and deflected from a straight line passing through the journals and adapted to be turned to cause the ribs to lie close against the surface or the deflected parts to stand off from the surface of the base, substantially as set forth.

2. In a washboard, a frame comprising a base, and a series of ribs journaled at their ends and intermediate of their ends to the frame and having the parts between the journals deflected, said ribs being adapted to lie against the surface of the base or to be turned to throw the deflected parts away from the said surface, substantially as set forth.

3. In a washboard comprising side strips and a base or back board, ribs journaled at their ends in the side strips and having journals intermediate of their ends, the parts between the respective journals being deflected, and fastenings securing the intermediate journals to the said hase, the ribs being adapted to lie close against the surface of the base or to be turned to throw the deflected parts outward therefrom, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SPENCER MCCAY. [L s] Vitnesses:

A. B. LACEY, GENEVIEVE MATTHEWS. 

